A
Abstracts - Abstract submission is via the Internet and will be available from 1 February 2009. The deadline for submission of abstracts is 13 April 2009. Notes for Presenters will be available soon.
Accommodation - The official hotel accommodation housing secretariat is:
AUSTROPA INTERCONVENTION
Verkehrsbuero Kongress Management GmbH
Dresdner Strasse 81-85, A-1200 Wien
Tel.: +43/1/588 00-525
Fax: +43/1/588 00-520
homepage: http://www.austropa-interconvention.at/congress/eacts2009
Contact: Katharina Taussig, eacts2009@interconvention.at
Further information can be found here
Airport – Vienna International Airport is located about 16 km south-east of Vienna. Public transport to the city centre is provided by frequent bus and train connections.
The City Airport Train (CAT) will take you to Landstrasse/Wien Mitte where taxis and public transportation are available. The CAT takes only 16 minutes to the heart of Vienna, the fare is €9.00. (€8.00 if you pre-book online). You can check in and obtain your boarding card at the City Air Terminal at Wien Mitte for Star Alliance, Air Berlin and NIKI flights. Check-in is possible from 24 hours up to 75 minutes prior to departure.
The train line S7 can be also used to get from the airport to the City, Vienna North and Floridsdorf every 30 minutes, the fare is €3.40.
A frequent bus connection (Vienna Airport Services) to South Train Station, West Train Station , Schwedenplatz and Vienna International Center (next to the congress venue) is available. Buses leave the airport outside of the arrival building every 30 minutes. Price per ticket is approx. €6.00 one way and €11.00 round trip. A transfer to your hotel by shuttle can be ordered in the arrival hall. A taxi from the airport to the city centre costs approx. € 30.00 one-way.
For further information regarding the airport, please refer to http://www.viennaairport.com
Austrian Airlines - 
Book your flights to the 23rd EACTS Annual Meeting online at www.austrian.com and save 15% on all applicable fares!
To do so, simply enter the following code in the eVoucher/Gutschein field on the Austrian homepage booking-engine: Code: EACTS9
Conditions:
- Booking period: now until October 21st, 2009
- valid for flights to Vienna and return as of October 02nd, 2009 until November 04th, 2009 (final date for return flight) on OS flight numbers.
Awards and Prizes - For further information regarding the Awards and Prizes for submitted Abstracts please click here.
B
Banks and exchange
Official opening hours of banks in Vienna are generally on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 08:30 – 12:30 and 13:30 – 15:00 and on Thursday 08:30 – 12:30 and 13:30 – 17:00. Banks are closed on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.
C
CME Credits - For further information regarding accreditation please contact the Executive Secretariat.
Climate - The climate in October is normally around 15°C by day, cooler at night.
Credit Cards - Most hotels, restaurants and shops in Vienna accept major credit cards.
Cultural Tickets - Austropa Interconvention also offers tickets for a wide range of cultural events. Prices vary depending on the seating category required and the cast of each performance.
Currency – Euro €
D
Dates - The dates of the 23rd EACTS Annual Meeting are 17-21 October 2009.
Disclaimer - The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) cannot accept any liability for death, injury, or any loss, cost or expense suffered or incurred by any person if such loss is caused or results from the act, default or omission of any person other than an employee or agent of EACTS. In particular, the EACTS cannot accept any liability for losses arising from the provision or non-provision of services provided by hotel companies or transport operators. Nor can EACTS accept liability for losses suffered by reason of war including threat of war, riot and civil strife, terrorist activity, natural disaster, weather, flood, drought, technical, mechanical or electrical breakdown within any premises visited by delegates and/or partners in connection with the Annual Meeting, industrial disputes, governmental action, regulation or technical problems which may affect the services provide in connection with the Annual Meeting. EACTS is not able to give any warranty that a particular person will appear as a speaker or panellist.
E
EACTS Executive Secretariat
Registration, Scientific Secretariat, Exhibition Management, Sponsorship
3 Park Street
Windsor
Berks SL4 1LU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1753 832166
Fax: +44 (0) 1753 620407
Email: info@eacts.co.uk
Electricity - The power supply in Austria is 220V AC. All sockets follow European standards. To use American-type plugs, a 220V transformer should be used together with an adapter plug.
Exhibition - The Exhibition is open to pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers of medical and surgical equipment, software equipment and scientific publishers. The Exhibition will take place in Halls X and XL of the Austria Center (ACV) on the Blue Level and will be open as follows:
Sunday 18 October 16:30-19:00
Monday 19 October 09:00-17:00
Tuesday 20 October 09:00-17:00
Wednesday 21 October 09:00-12:00
Delegate refreshments will be served at various locations within the exhibition halls. All enquiries and correspondence regarding the Exhibition should be directed to the EACTS Executive Secretariat.
Exhibitors - for further information please see Technical Exhibition
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Housing - The official hotel accommodation secretariat for the 23rd EACTS Annual Meeting is AUSTROPA INTERCONVENTION. Further information can be found here.
I
Insurance and Liability - Neither the organizers nor Austropa Interconvention can be held responsible for any personal injury, loss, damage, accident to private property or additional expenses incurred as a result of delays or changes in air, rail, sea, road or other services, strikes, sickness, weather, acts of terrorism and any other cause. All participants are encouraged to make their own arrangements for health and travel insurance.
L
Letters of Invitation - Letters of invitation required to meet the administrative and legal regulations of some countries are available to participants upon request to the Executive Secretariat. Please provide name, address and other relevant information including email address. Such letters should not, however, be construed as a financial commitment on the part of the Organisers.
Lunch and Refreshments - Coffee and tea will be available in the exhibition areas during the official Meeting breaks and will be included in the registration fee. Lunch is not included in the registration fee. However, there will be catering points in the exhibition area where delegates may purchase food and drinks.
O
Official Language - The official language of the meeting is English.
Opening Hours - The Annual Techno-College of EACTS will be held from 08:00-18:00 on Saturday 17 October. Postgraduate Courses will be held on Sunday 18 October from 09:00 to 16:00. The main scientific programme will commence at 08:30 on Monday 19 October and end at 12:00 on Wednesday 21 October. Breakfast Sessions will be held on Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 October from 07:30-08:30.
Registration and information desks will be open in the Yellow Level of the Austria Congress Center at the following times:
Friday 16 October 14:00-18:00
Saturday 17 October 07:00-19:00
Sunday 18 October 07:00-19:00
Monday 19 October 07:00-17:00
Tuesday 20 October 07:00-17:00
Wednesday 21 October 08:00-12:00
To avoid unnecessary delay, you are strongly recommended to register and collect Meeting documentation on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 October if possible.
P
Passports and Visas – Check passport and visa requirements in due time before you leave. Please ask the nearest consulate whether you need a visa for entering Austria. Please note that passport holders of EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Swiss do not require a visa as well as passport holder from most states of North and South America and of a few other states. Those participants and accompanying persons who require a visa for Austria are advised to apply for a visa from Austrian Consulate in their respective countries in good time prior to their departure.
If needed, an official invitation letter can be requested from the Scientific Secretariat for visa purposes. Please note that in various countries the procedure for visa application can take up to 6 months. Therefore an early application is recommended.
Useful website: http://www.theschengenoffice.com/austria_tourist_visa.html
Postgraduate Courses - Six postgraduate courses will be held on Sunday 18 October on Adult Cardiac Surgery, General Thoracic Surgery, Congenital Heart Surgery, Endovascular Surgery, Perfusion and Basic Science.
Presenters - Notes and Guidelines for presenting at the 23rd EACTS Annual Meeting will be available shortly.
Public Transport – refer to Transport and Travel Information here.
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Registration – Registration will open shortly. For further information click here
S
Satellite Meetings - For further information on Satellite Meeting opportunities please contact the EACTS Executive Secretariat.
Scientific Programme - The 23rd EACTS Annual Meeting will concentrate on scientific exchanges in Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery and will be presented in oral and film sessions, in addition to 'hands-on' demonstrations of heart specimens.
Shopping hours - Shops are generally open from 09:00 – 18:00 from Monday to Friday on workdays and from 09:00 – 17:00 on Saturdays. Some are closed during the lunch time (12:00 to 14:00). Several larger shops and shopping centers are open until 19:00 or 21:00. Supermarkets open at 08:00 and close at 19:00 during the week. Shops remain closed on Sundays except the shops at the airport and in the main train stations.
Speakers - Notes and Guidelines for presenting at the 23rd EACTS Annual Meeting to follow shortly.
T
Taxis – Taxis are reasonably priced and can be found at clearly marked taxi stands (Taxistandplätze), usually located near U-Bahn, Strassenbahn and Autobus stations and busy intersections. When travelling to and from the airport be sure to request airport rates, Airport Transfers can be booked in advance via the homepage of the Housing Office Austropa Interconvention.
Technical Exhibition - Pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers of technical equipment and software, as well as publishers of related scientific books and journals are invited to participate in the Trade Exhibition held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting. For more information click here.
Techno-College - 17 October 2009. The Annual Techno-College is an integral part of EACTS and will update you on the latest developments in the field of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. For further information click here.
Tours - information on Optional Tours.
Transport & Travel Information - click here
Travel Passes
Travel passes can be purchased from the Vienna Transport Authority. Details here
Venue
Austria Center Vienna
IAKW - AG
Bruno-Kreisky-Platz 1
A-1220 Vienna
Phone: +43-1- 260 69-0
Fax: +43-1-260 69-303
E-Mail: office@acv.at
Visas - see Passports and Visas.
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Weather – see climate